This Spanish Refinery is Both on Air and In Control with Wireless Automation

The new Radioline system allows a maximum of 250 stations to be networked. Distances between two devices of up to ten kilometers can be spanned, depending on which frequency is chosen. Given that every module also functions as a repeater for downstream stations, the network covers an overall area many times larger. The product line includes communication heads for the 2.4 GHz, 868 MHz, and 900 MHz frequency bandwidths and for RS-485 communication. The integrated blacklisting function enables two wireless LAN channels to be faded down, meaning the Radioline and wireless LAN components do not interfere with each other. A variety of structures are possible, ranging from point-to-point or star through to self-healing mesh networks (Picture).

Users can flexibly add I/O modules to any Radioline device for purposes of exchanging sensor/actuator data. To start up the system, an integrated thumbwheel distributes I/O information to the corresponding modules in the network. Alternatively, the data can be managed centrally in a Modbus register, which allows it to be read and written by the controllers directly via Modbus. What’s more, Radioline replaces serial RS-232/485 cables. The wireless solution also offers an extended operating temperature range from -40 °C to +70 °C. This, coupled with global Ex certification, makes it suitable for use in infrastructure and process applications.